Dear
friends, wherever in the world you are, away from you, we miss
you...we often talk about you, we pray for many of you almost every
day, and others as the Holy Spirit prompts one way or another ...
through good old Facebook, just thinking of you,or some other
stimulus! We are so aware of the importance of true friends, the sort
you just pick up with when you see one another, as if you have never
been separated by distance or circumstances or time. We've
experienced that a little this year, as we so enjoyed having
different ones visit for a week,a couple of days or an afternoon or
evening, but HOW we soaked up the joy of being together.
Friendship
shows us something so wonderful of the love of God. Who is our
dearest Friend? Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit,God Who is Love, from Whom
all our loving relationships flow, because of the way we are made.
Thankyou beautiful God for Your friendship, and all these wonderful
people who reflect you to us...
To
round off on the subject of friendship, we are so sorry we are not
better at more regularly keeping in touch. We just don't seem able to
do much better at the moment, even with all the wonders of the web,
Facebook etc. and we won't begin to make excuses. Thankyou for loving
us despite our tardiness ...
This
year has been very full, on the work and calling front,here in
Battery Point and in the Midlands, with beloved local family and
friends,with buying, moving, and working on THE HOUSE, with choral
music at St George's, and in the Tasmanian Chorale! One of the joys
recently in the Midlands part of our life has been our Alpha course,
such good stimulus to really share with others (a very small group)
about our Lord Jesus and the Gospel, and to see the Holy Spirit
stirring us up in questions, understanding and experience. Shoots of
new life are springing up, and in Battery Point, numerical growth and
growth in the fruit of the Spirit are beautifully evident among us as
we share in worship and fellowship in all its various forms. We have
been, like many in the Body of Christ, caught up in the joys and
busyness of carol services and children's nativity plays, and it is a
delightful time of reaching out to the community. As we have
letter-boxed the area there has been a very warm response, praise
God, eg a group of 30 people sang carols walking around the community
on Christmas Eve, despite threatening rain ... they were all SO
enthusiastic about the experience, and most were not from St
George's.!
Roslyn:
You'll
all be glad to know I am doing really well healthwise, just a bit
creaky in the right leg joints because of bursitis. I haven't given a
recital this year,but am playing Bach and Schubert, and at the right
time will share with others! I am passionate about choral music, love
conducting my own group at St George's, and love singing in and
getting to assist occasionally with conducting the Tasmanian Chorale.
Thinking about possibilities for next year.
John:
The
life of a pastor is rich and full, and in my chaplaincy work with
other pastors there is a significant mutual blessing as we share and
pray together about personal and ministry issues and finding God's
perspective. The parish work (particularly the people interaction
part) is life giving for me, the other unavoidable aspects (admin,
meetings etc) I am not so good at but we get through, though I think
I would not without my assistants Paul and Luke who with their wives
contribute so much to the life of the church here. As mentioned above
we have moved the house and you can see the story in pictures here.
The restoration will be a long term project (nothing will happen
quickly on less than one day a week! Though amazing things happen
when I am joined by friends from church or Roslyn's brother Ray or my
brother David – what a blessing these guys are! I am also enjoying
producing cards from some of my photography in time off when not
working on the house.
Family:
We are
very thankful for the closeness of Ruth, Moz and our gorgeous grand
children, (Jessica now 16, and Caleb 13) and the times we share
together. Jessica and Moz went to Korea and China on a school trip
this year, had a WONDERFUL time. What a great thing for them to
share, along with all who participated. Both Jess and Caleb are doing
extremely well in study, in dance, (for Jess that is like breathing!)
and Caleb is enjoying piano. They are very involved in the life of
St Clements Anglican Church, as are Ruth and Moz, who have
significant responsibilities in the fellowship. Ruth is continuing her post doc. research at ANU and Sydney universities requiring quite a bit of travel and is also teaching at Tas Uni. Moz is loving teaching at Calvin Christian school (high school level).
Although
we miss physical proximity with Catherine and Anthony, we are SO
grateful for skpe (especially when it works!!!).We have some lovely
chats with Catherine, and are so excited for Catherine, as her
musical giftings in the area of composition are flowering, and she is
being affirmed by commissions, and performances of her works ... and
then there is her composing for films, and her involvement in the
whole film production area. You can catch up with Catherine here.
So there is LOTS to talk about when we skype.
Anthony
continues to be flat out busy with his work as associate
professor and head of international relations at Flinders
University in Adelaide,and the various extracurricular
responsibilities that are part of that position,writing articles on
various aspects of human rights, conferences,meetings, but his love
of music does provide a balance, and he participates in at least one
of Adelaide's choirs! We miss him, and we won't see him or Catherine
this Christmas...so praise be for skype!!!
As we
flick through our diaries, (John's of course is on his mobile
phone,along with so much information!!!) the impact of the speed of
time passing is almost scary...Events that seem to be recent,turn out
to be months ago, some I thought happened this year were actually
last year...extraordinary!”Our times are in His Hands”, and we
will rest in that.
So
whenever we get to see you, it will be soon, one way or another! You
each are so dear to us, thankyou for what you mean because of your
love and your prayers.
God
bless, in the Beloved,
John
and Roslyn
The pictures, by the way are of Jericho in midland Tasmania in winter, sculptures from the Albert Memorial in London UK, and the chapel next to Monmatra in Paris. All from my camera.
ReplyDeleteIt was great to read your Christmas email here, Ros & John. What a lovely layout presentation with quotes and pictures. It appears your whole family of children and grandchildren are all incredibly disciplined & endowed, and are being used in superior, above average, ways and levels.You must be exceedingly proud.What a very gifted family. I miss our in person chats in Haymarket,VA. It's hard to believe that you both have been gone for nearly 8 years. Yes, time has flown by. Time is also catapulting into the the last, of the last day, and the rapture,that is,the uniting of the saints with our precious, glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,is ripe and ready at the door.
ReplyDeleteWith love always,Melanie